Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Dec. 23, 1916, edition 1 / Page 1
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It - (: -.: t " I: WEATHER. 7 HE ADVERTISEMENTS in these . columns give practical, helpful suggestions for holiday buying during the rush' this week. Fair Saturday; Sunday lair, slightly warmer west-portion. VOL. XCIX-NO. 89. WILnGTO. "N. C SATURDAY' MO R"NTN"CtL- TOTniVTTiTiTO 9(5 iqia WHOLE DUMBER 39,803 EARLY REPLY TO RECESS IS TAKEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS BERLIN RECEIVES NEWS OF PRESIDENT'S NO TE WI TH A TREMENDOUS WELCOME MUSIC FESTIVAL IS IS - ' , - wrier thy NUMBERS OF MEN TAKEN FROM JOBS TEUTONS CONTINUE DRIVING RUMANIANS NOTE SUED FOR $30,000 Entente Powers, Will Have to Con sult Each Other in Regard to President's Action BRITISH COMMENT HOSTILE German View l Relations Between Germany and This Country Will be Improved President Flood ed With Congratulations. Washington, Dec. 22. -While nothing official came from Europe today to show when the belligerents will reply . to President Wilson's note urging discus lion of peace, or what the nature of the responses might be, the London news dispatches indicating'that an ear ly reply was unlikely because, of . the necessity of consultation between the Allies agreed -with' the 'view prevailing tere. . .. Apparently the administration, . hav ing dispatched the note and in the in terest, of caution having taken steps to see that no misconstruction abroad was placed on the President's purposes, now is carefully watching the expressions of opinion, particularly in the British press. As the attitude of the Teutonic Allies had been clearly foreshadowed in advance and the President In the note specifically disclaimed any association with that attitude, the 'interest of Am erican officials centered on the recep tion of the note in the Entente coun tries and among the European neu trals. London Dispatches Hostile It was recalled, as the London dis patches, most of them hostile, arrived, that similar expressions , greeted the original. proposals of the Central Allies, but that the views were moderated in the British press and among the En tente diplomats here after reflection, and discussion." ' " ; ' " " ;.' -' To preclude any possibility of mis construction of the President's purpos-v es from the flurry of yesterday,' caused by Secretary Lansing's two statements, both statements were cabled today to American diplomats abroad- in neutral as well as belligerent countries, so they might be prepared to correctly state the President's attitude to the govern ments to which they are accredited. They are intended to offer official evi dence, if it be needed, that the Presi dent's note is exactly what .it purposts to be on its face. . Improve Relations "With Germany The German view here is that what ever reply of the Entente Allies the relations between Germany and the I'cited States will have been immeas urably improved, probably to the point of assuring careful steps by the Berlin government to avoid any such condi tions as led up to a crisis which threat ened a break in diplomatic relations. entente diplomats, while they anpar. ently had decided to accept the Presi dent's attitude in erood faith, had not wholly disposed of their fear that it might rebound to the advantage of their enemifis. Wilson and Lansing: In Accord It was reiterated today in air official Quarters that there was perfect un derstanding between. Secretary Lansing and the President, and whatever might nave appeared as. discord in interpreta tion of the note to the belligerents had been disposed of by the issue of the secretary's second-statement and the eps to inform the foreign govern ments of the facts. Discussed by Cabinet. "he note to th heniaor'enta Rcro. kry Lansing's explanatory statements and recent nm-.. ,.v ma. ii o u uiua.1 1110 auiivi" es furnished the chief topic of dis- , slon at today's cabinet meetings -ater it was saidj that the discussion as directed toward no particular end, out merplv hm v, t- . 1- .i - . ""U6"- LUl 111 IUB VIC WD Ul "Pinet members. Alter tht iqVUi : . - a. fnsing said that full information of n sinking of the British liner Arabia as not. at hand Th AmA.n nrnont is anxiously waiting word from . " 1 to iuc iji man 11U1 DO Qfliy with ' which admittedly was sunk J-nout warning bv a German anhma. ne and which the State Department V0M x xv b. ca, vi alio- cid i course of action will be de- frn ?n until Germany has been heard Irm further. . " Was learnorl tl.it f ji. thi V cabinet took the view that iorce of tVio r,t Serr been materially affected by Lansing's statements . Flood of Congratulations. 1 rress mm i . , - rjer, -""incui, m ooin n.ngiana ana tere fwy' was read with the deepest ln-fa-L members of the cabinet. Mes- Pour i -a--n4ii.Hi6 unc ricDiueui inrrl lnto the White House today in r. vuiume. Almost without ex. Uon "cnuers mierpretea tne ac- IJcatc IllUVe. th- J ucducr mann reierrea. to lav , ne noor or the House to f and heartily praised President Wil- ng acting nriii - v unoui regara 10 par shin' ha T 1 tl.. il . " til.' people of the , 1... lttle anrl . , ... . . . . effor V. J,Ilinena me president in every r1 has made or may makt to re- u Liie wgrioi Some Dlpiomars Worried. - 11 D era mO Vnnnr. J I J uuiing ine aay inai "u'ne memKc it.- -la "l "te uipiomaiic corps 4r Worried . i.u ....'i ith k "vcl uneir personal status ,. ltl their hflme PniromK m ..JXntv. ill .!!ave! been- informing for weeks 4t that fhi. tt-u-j . . . .. Ho a . . oinica estates wouia taxe WitT, , in ine -European situation. Hn., a""" oi tne uerman pro- thi? ne announced decision of l . government not to add any word own, most diplomats beearae fln (Ccniinued on Paga Two.) - Had Regular Employment in Bel- ' gium .But Were Deported to Germany to Work REPLY TO GERMAN CLAIMS Director of Documentary Bureau of Tke' Belgian War Ministry Gives Statement to the Associated Press Havre, Dec. 22. rSpecific details of the deportation of Belgians, refuting the reports from Berlin that those on ly without work were depprted, and if others were taken, it was the" fault of the Belgian municipal authorities, were communicated, to the Associated Press today by Fernand Passelecq, dU rector . of the documentary bureau of the Belgian' war ministry. " "The German pretension . that errors in Judging the, social condition of those deported were involuntary and imput ing them to the baa faith of the Bel- gain authorities is entirely contrary to the facts", said M. Passelecq. "It , is to be noted in Governor General Von Bissing's reply to the protest of the senators and deputies, recently made public,- that he did not dare to contest the facts concerning the arbitrary seizures.- of employed persons. "At Quaregnon in the coal region south of Mons, 3,000 workmen were summoned and 304 'deported, of-which 227 had been out of work. At Dour 137 were taken, of whom 117. were working. 'At Wasmes . 186 were de ported, of whom 130 were working; at Fratneries 200 were, deported, of whom 187 were working;, at HOrnu 140 were deported, of whom 8T were working; at Ghlin 156 were taken, of whom' 46 were working. , "Forty-six , men - e"mployed at the Baume-Marpent rolling -mills at Haine St. Pierre, were taken. From the Gil son works at LaCroyere; 50 employees were : taken, from . the works at De- Louve BO workmen weTe" taken. : Fifty- rjne iTtnrowtC3yej'e arrerstx- . to -?Hrg rolling mills at LaCroyer and 25 were taken from the ISO.empljyed at the Bolt works at LaLouvlere; from the Compagnie Centrale De Construction, at Haine St. Pierre, 25 workmen were taken. From the blast furnaces and foundries at LaLouvlers, 70 per cent. of the total number employed were seized, making it impossible for the works to continue operations. "From the G. Boel works, at LaLou vlere, 259 men regularly - employed were taken. The glass works at Jem appes, the only establishment of its kind in the i Wstrict, resumed work December 4. 1915, and worked without Interruption, increasing its output un til November 1, 1916, when it was shut down for repairs until November 10 with the intention of Increasing the production. . More than half of the skilled workmen at these works were arrested and deported including 40 per cent, of the blowers, 60 per cent of the flrst-class apprentices, 32 per cent, of the second-class apprentices. 35 per cent of the extenders and all the elec tricians and adjusters. "Germany released a few hundred out of .the 100.00& taken to make a show of magnanimity. The releases were not spontaneous, but were the re sult of the pressing representations made by the American and Spanish ministers at Brussels." OF President Names Three Democrats and Two Republicans Will. Have Supervision Over Freight Rates in American Water and are Empolewed to Organise $50,- 000,000 Marine Corporation. Washington,VDec. 22. President Wil. son today, nominated the following tt be members of the government ship ping board: William Denman, of San Francisco. Bernard N. Baker, of Baltimore; John a rrmald. of New York; John Barber White,, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Theo- j dore Brent, oi JNew uneuua. The boar4 will have general super vision over freight rates in American waters and is empowered td organize a $50,000,000 corporation to build or buy merchanphips-. . . . , .., . . The' ships built or bought will be available to lease or charter by private interests, but may be operated by the government .should private concerns fail to take them. The intent of the law, aside from restoration of ships for American commerce . removed by tne war, is to open up trade routes which private capital does not consider yet profitable enough for it to enter. " Mr. Denman, who gets the longest term of six years, is a Democrat and a lawyer with experience in admiralty cases, a ! ' Mr Baker, nominated for a five year termJ bas had wide experience as a ship owner and for 30 years was president of the' Atlantic Transport Line. He is a Democrat and Mr. McDonald, the third Democratic' member, was nominated for four years. He has, had a life long ex? perlence in the steamship, business. Mr - White, a Republican, was nom 0, .' (Continue on Page Eight). MEIERS SHIPPING BOARD ARE NOMINATED Berlin Reports Further Advance in Dobrudja With the Cap ture of 900 Russians BRITISH OCCUPY TURK TOWN Petroerrad Reports Driving Bulgarian Force Into Lake in Dobrudja. Many Bulgars Drowned ati4 115 Taken Prisoner! . Except in northern Dobrudja," where the troops of the Central, Powers con tinue to drive the Russians and Ruman ians toward, Bessarabia, there has been little important activity on the battle fronts of Europe. The Russian troops in Dobrudja, Pet rograd announces, were forced to retire northward under heavy attacks from numerically superior hostile forces. Berlin states that the Teutonic army in Dobrudja continues to advance success fully amd announces the capture of 900 Russian soldiers. East of Lake Baba Jagh, a Russian regiment, Petrograd records, drove a force of Bulgarians In to Lake Ibolata. A, great many Bul garians were drowned and 115 were made prisoner. "The artillery bombardment continues at various points on the eastern front. Berlin reports increased activity, espe cially in the Somme sector and on! the east bank of the Mouse in the Verdun region, the scene of the latest French advance In Galicia, near the Zlochoff-Tarnonol railroad, there. has been a" spirited en gagement. Berlin renorts th hmaVinir of the advanced Russian line northwest of Zalostse; while Petrograd says the Austro-Ger"mans were "compelled' to re tire after occupying some trenches. Some fighting has taken place in :he Trotus valley on the Moldavian frontier ana along the Bystriza river in the Carpathians. El Arlsh, 90 miles east of the Suez canal in Egypt, has been captured by British troops. The town has been oc cupied for two vears hv th ?TiirW jvh-b ?VHt atajjuK :entrencbnents around it. The defenders fled from El Arlsh on the approach of the British army. TEIPER FOUND GUILTY OF J MURDER IN SECOND DEGREE Iron Nerve of Defendant Gives Way When verdict Is Announced.. Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 22. John Edward Teiper, charged with having killed his mother last January, was found guilty of second degree murder late today by a jury which had deliberated 29 hours. The sentence prescribed for second de gree murder is a minimum of 20 years imprisonment. Sentence on- Teiper was deferred. The verdict broke the iron nerve of the young defendant, who throughout the long trial had given no sign of emotion. As the jury - foreman an nounced the verdict Teiper's knees sagged and he. would have fallen had he not been caught by a deputy. "Oh, my God," he shrieked as he struggled to rise, "this is not fair; this isn't human." In all the balloting up to the last vote, it was said, eleven jurors had stood for first degree murder. One man, according to report, held out against that verdict because the evi dence was ' circumstantial. He could not be won over and the compromise verdict was given. GIRL BRINGS PEACE' LETTER FROM EHGLAHD Appeals to President to Stop the European Conflict Letter Was Written By Bert rand Rus sel, English Pacifist, and Sent , By Messenger to Evade the Censor New York, Dec. 22. A 'girl who came to America as a messenger from Ber trand Russel, an English pacifist, fam ous as a philospher, delivered to the American Neutral Conference here to day an open letter from Mr. Russel addressed to President Wilson appeal ing .to him to "bring peace to Europe". The letter was sent by messenger to evade the British" censor. The name of its bearer was not disclosed through fear of making trouble for her should sh return, to England. Three mem bers of the conference committee, George Foster Peabody, Paul Kellogg, and Miss Emily Greene Balch, were selected to carry the letter to Presi dent Wilson and left here tonight for Washington. Mr. Russel, who is the heir ,of Earl Russel and was a lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge,, recent ly was fined $500 for haVing written a pamphlet opposing conscription in England.- He . also -was prohibited from coming to the United States . to lecture at Harvard and was forbidden to enter any prohibited area ; in.., Lon don. In his letter Mr. Russel asserted that it was within the power of 'the President to "bring the war to an end by a just peace", ana tnat "the United States has the power, not only to com pel the European governments to make peace but also to reassure the popula . (Continued on Page Two.) Congress Has Crowded Record Amount of Work Into Brief Period of Session TO RE-CONVENE JANUARY 2 In Neither House Nor Senate Has Much Consideration Been Given Railroad Legislation Suggested by President. Washington, Dec. 22. Congress ad journed today for the Christmas holi days to reconvene ; January 2. In the three weeks of the session, the House passed Ave government supply 'meas ures, the urgent deficiency, legislative, Indian, District of Columbia and diplo matic and consular appropriation bills; more than ever were passed before in the brief period preceding a holiday recess. .- ' One of these bills, the urgent defi ciency, has passed, the Senate. . Railroad legislation, suggested by President Wilson failed to get much attention in either branch. The House Commerce ' committee decided to await initiative action In the' Senate, where, beginning Jahuaryi2, tjie Senate Com merce committee will hold hearings op the proposed railroad arbitration, meas ure and the bill, authorizing the Presi dent to take oyer the railroad, tele phone and telegraph lines In case of military necessity. ; ' At the conclusion of the hearings, the railroad measures, in some' form will .be pressed, as amendments: to the pending bill to-"enlarge th Interstate Commerce Commission -- Senator .New lands, chairman of -'the committee, hopes to get action before the March adjournment. The Senate passed, the. immigration bill with its literacy test. provision,' and it now is in the conference. The Sen ate also began consideration of the Dis trict of . Columbia, prohibition bill, and fixed January 9 far avote. . The . National Prohlbitfon Constitu tigrftft amendment 'ji',xepoidv3'favor ably -flwTTne judiciary committee in each house. and will be pressed by its champions at every . opportunity, al though they have little hope of securing the necessary, two-thirds majority at this session.' , , House committees also reported the Borland fbod investigation resolution with a favorable recommendation, and the' Susan B. Anthony constitutional amendment for woman suffrage with out recommendation. Neither resolu tion advanced to consideration, in the House. MUST SHOW WHY THEY SHOULD NOT RETURN CARS Commerce Comlssion to Hear Railroads' Reasons December 28. Washington, Dec. 22. An order was issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission today requiring the rail roads to show cause at a hearing here December 28 why they should not re turn at once to their owners, without diversion of misuse, all foreign coal and refrigerator cars immediately after un loading at their destination. The commission's order follows an announcement yesterday by the Ameri can Railway Association's car service commission that eight of the large railroads,- seven of them in the East, had failed to comply with its instructions to deliver a designated excess of box cars to Southern and Western connec tions above the number of such cars received. . The car commission has established headquarters here and for weeks has Been working in. co-operation with offi. cials of the Interstate Commerce. Com mission to relieve the almost nation wide car shortage. . . CHARLOTTE .STANDS GOOD CHANCE FOR FARM LOAN BANK Is One of Five Cities Being Given Spe cial Consideration. Washington, Dec. 22. The Federal Farm Loan -Board, in considering 150 cities for locations for the 12 farm loan banks soon to be announced, Is under stood to be paying special attention to the claims of Charlotte, N. C.;' New Orleans,- Houston, Texas; Baltimore, Springfield, Mass.' It is understood the board has virtually decided on the lo cation of six banks and that the other six, chiefly in the West, practically are undecided. Some complete' announcement is ex pected within two weeks JAPANESE GENERAL ARRIVES Lands at New York From France Re fuses to State His Business. . New York. Dec. 22. Major General Masataro Fukuda, chief of the second section of the general staff of the Jap anese army war office and recently an observer attached to the French army, arrived .here today on the .French liner La Touraine from ' Bordeaux. General - Fukuda declined to say whether he had any special mission here, but members of his party said his visit was entirely unofficial and-that he would soon proceed to Japan. Discuss ing the. European war. General Fukuda said that hfs. impartial view as a sol dier was that the Entente Allies could not lose their cause. . TEUTONIC FORCES C6NTINUE ' ' TO ADVANCE IN DOBRUDJA Berlin, Dec. 22. (yia. Sayville) Teu tonic forces continue to advance in the Dobrudja arid-have- taken 900 Russian prisoners, says the official statement issued from, . German v genera' head quarters today. ' On the other frojats there has been ; but little activity. Impression of Official and Newspaper Circles Displayed in Large Head-Lines Hailing It as All-Important News of the Christ mas Season; Chief Interest in London Centers in Reception of Note by the Central Powers Berlin, Dec. 22. (via London). The announcement of President Wilson's peace' endeavor, received through the Associated Press, was accorded a tre mendous welcome in Berlin. The im pression of official ana newspaper cir cles appeared in the noon editions un der large display headlines as the all important news of the Christmas sea son, reviving the interest in the Ger man peace overtures which had sunk to a low point under tne' influence of preliminary declarations of statesmen of the Entente powers. ' The American embassy, to which the ambassador, James W. Gerard, return ed late last night from New York, the Associated Press correspondent and the American 'charge,-Joseph C. Grew, were besieged by newspaper men who sought additional information concern ing the President's peaoe note, but nothing beyond the press dispatches could be given. CONTINUES ONLY SUBJECT OF INTEREST IN LONDON Lpndon, Dec. 23. Chief interest here concerning President Wilson's note to the belligeent and neutral powers on the posibilities of the belligerents making known their requirements con cerning peace, now centers upon the reception of the document by the Cen tral Powers. The flrst advices receiv ed here from Germany regarding the note evince enthusiasm and welcome it, as was the reverse in England. The discussion here overnight was so absorbed in British emo'tions and as to the type of what should be Great Brit ain's reply that the attitude of the Cen tral Powers commanded litti'e'v.tten tion. The note continues to be the only subject of interest here. Its only par allel in Anglo-American relations as re tfa.vd - the-.-se.nsati.on- rt --created -was President Cleveland's . Venezuelan mes sage, and the two documents are coup led as having created a similar im pression. All discussion in official quarters em phasizes the point that the policy of the Entente- Allies and their procedure to ward the peace overtures of the Central Powers will not be' altered by Presi dent Wilson's appearance upon the stage as a participant in events. PEACE NOTES NOT MENTIONED t IN KING GEORGE'S MESSAGE London, Dec. 22. Parliament was prorogued today until February 7 with out the members being given any fur ther information regarding President Wilson's note or what action the gov ernment contemplated with respect to it. Neither the note nor the German peace proposals were mentioned in the king's speech,' read in both houses, the speech' expressing confidence in the ul timate victory of the Allies and deter mination to prosecute war "until -We, have vindicated the rights so ruthless ly violated by our enemie,s and estab lished the security of Europe on a sure foundation." The text of the king's speech was as follows: "My lords and gentlemen: Through Out the months that have elapsed since I last addressed you, my navy and my IT FILES OPINIONS IN 10 CASES Appeal of J. J. Britt From Judge Adams is Included. Opinion, Written by Justice Allen, Is Lengthy and Discusses Case from Every Angle Court Recesses to December 29. (Special Star Telegram) Raleigh, N. C, Dec. 22. The Supreme Court delivered bpinions this afternoon in ten appeals and took recess to De cember 29, not having been able to complete the work of the term in time for final adjournment before the Christmas holidays. The opinion in the appeal of J. J. Britt from Judge Adams, in dismissing the writ of man damus against the Buncombe county boarct of elections in his contest to pre vent the certificate of election to Con gress being awarded to Z. V. Weaver, was included, this being written by Justice Allen. It is a document of some ten pages, discussing the case from every angle. While affirming Judge Adams in the dismissal of the writ, the court takes occasion to say: ' "We would also hold that the so called 'supplementary returns ought not to -have been considered if, as the I plaintiff .contends, they were made up aiici w. . had- fully performed their duties and without calling these officers together again for the purpose". Judge Shaw Without Authority - The- opinion sets out that In . the first place Judge Shaw was without authority to issue the writ of manda mus but that, It having passed to hear ing, before Judge Adams without this issue being raised, the, findings of Judge Adams as to the facts are final , (Continue on Page Eight). SUPREME ou army in conjunction with those of our gallant and faithful allies, have by their unceasing vigilance and indomitable va-i- lor justified the high trust I placed in them. I am confident that, however long the struggle, their efforts, sup ported by the inflexible determination of all my subjects throughout the em pire, will, finally achieve the victorious consummation of those aims for which I entered into this war. - "My government has been recon structed with the sole object of furth ering those aims unaltered and unim paired. I thank you for the unstint ed liberality -with which you continue to provide for the burdens of the war. The vigorous prosecution of this war must be our single ' endeavor until we have vindicated the rights so ruthless ly violated by our enemies and estab lished the security of Europe on a sure foundation. In this sacred cause I am assured of the united support of all my peoples and I pray that the Almighty God may give us His blessing." King George was not present in per son at the proroguatipn which was ef fected by the lord high chancellor in the house of lords and by the speaker in the house "of commons reading the king's speech. Assent also was given by roy al commission to a number of acts of parliament. GERMANY REPORTED READY TO STATE HER PEACE TERMS London, Dec. 22. An Exchange Tel egraph dispatch from The Hague says it is announced semiofficially that should the Entente Allies, in their re ply to the peace proposals of the Cen tral Powers,- leave the coor open for negotiations, Germany will make known her chief peace terms immedi ately. - ; . The German newspapers, which con tained the. announcement, declared faecfrfee :xrlenerTTa4.l hot contain a single word which, justifies the supposition that, the answer of the Entente powers, will deliberately re ject Germany's peace offer, and hat therefore the German government will define its attitude after the receipt of the reply. THE TEMPS POINTS OUT MR. WILSON'S "FUNDAMENTAL ERROR" Paris, Dec. 22. The Temps, which carries great political weight, after al luding to what it terms the courteous and precise form of President Wilson's note, says: - "It certainly seems that the Wash ington cabinet in its desire for peace has neglected to look the problem in the faee and weigh the real evidence. "President Wilson's fundamental er ror dates far back, to his refusal to pass upon the initial responsibility for the war. Judge what the two groups of belligerents say and think about peace. Can one forget that one of them deliberately broke the peace while the other . did everything to keep it?" The Temps remarks that President Wilson seems to see in Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg's speech . a declara tion of respect for the rights of small nations and. asks: "Can one forget in this connection (Continued on rage Two.) STOCK MARKET TAKES ON BUOYAHT ATTITUDE Considerable Recovery is Made From Thursday's Slump Better Known Issues Gain From Five to Ten Points and Considerably More In the Ultra-Specula- tlve Class. New York, Dec. 22. Bouyancy mark, ed the stock market today. The slump of the last fortnight, which culminated in yesterday's demoralization, gave way to recoveries of five to ten points in the better known - stocks and considerable more in issues of an ultra-speculative class. On today's extreme recoveries, num erous shares fully gained yesterday's losses, while a few were at or above final quotations of Wednesday. The re bound was effected on a much smaller volume of. operations about 1,750,000 snares against me iremenaous out- pouring of more than 3,000,000 shares' Thursday. -- Outstanding factors today were the better understanding of the interna tional situation based upon reports from Washington and other centers of importance , and the support given by investors who quickly availed . them selves of the "bargains' offered at yes terday's decline. Today's recovery began at the open ing, when stocks of all descriptions showed gains of- 3 to 8-' points. Set backs of 2 to 5 points, occasioned by professional profit-taking, occurred during the morning, with dullness and some hesitation at midday, when the speech by King George became public. ; Best, prices were recorded in the last hour when the market again ; became active and trading was broader than at (Continue on Pag Eight?. Former Assistant Manager Says It Was a Scheme to Boom Real Estate of Promoters DIRECTORS WERE 'DUMMIES' R. O. Alexander and Associates Charged With Diverting Original Philan thropic Alma to Selfish. Pur. 1 poses No Auditorium. Special Star Telegram.) Durham, N. C, Dec. 22. F. S. Weit brook, former assistant manager rOf the National Music Festival of America the half million dollar musical enter price of Black Mountain) started civil action here today against the corpora tion for recovery of $30,000. He alleges that G. W. Hinspaw and H. D. Shutt, of Winston-Salem, and R. O. Alexander, the defendants, have di verted the original aims of the com pany and used the philanthropic move ment to "boom" their real estate hold ings in Black Mountain. R. O. Everett, of the law firm of Man ning, Everett & Kitchin, has been em ployed to fight the Music Festival cor poration to a finish. The complaint - charges that R. O. Alexander, .a cotton speculator ot Charlotte, and one of the principal di rectors, sold 13 acres of his land for $13,000 and another lot of 27 acres for 150,000. He is alleged to have negoti ated this contract When other sites just as suitable were offered free to the philanthropic movement. Westbrook charges R. O. Alexander with having placed on the board of dU rectors "dummies", business associates whom he could control. He further more alleges that Alexander selected a large list of public spirited men "of America as an advisory board to offset the selfish motives which he had con cocted. Governors of South Carolina and North Carolina, Editor Richard H. SJd munds, of the Manufacturers Record;. Dr. E. Y. Mullins.'of Louisville, and Edl torTienry Watterabn; ef theSLouiavllle ' Courier-Journal, are among the dittln guished men on the advisory board. ' The $600,000 auditorium has not been built. JOHN L. CASPER PARDONED AFTER ONE YEAR IN PRISON Wires Friend in Winston-Salem That He Will Arrive There Sunday Winston-Salem, N. C, Dec. 22. John L. Casper, of Winston-Salem, convict ed about a year ago in the Federal court at Fort Smith, Ark., .in numer ous counts of defrauding the govern ment and sentenced to the Leaven worth prison for a term of nine years, received his pardon tonight at 9 o'clock, according to a telegram re ceived from him by a friend in this city. Casper states .in the telegram that he will, arrive here Sunday. - " The case in which Casper was con victed was one which attracted wide attention, the evidence showing that he had defrauded the government put of thousands of dollars in revenue on whiskey manufactured at his distiller- ies, at Fort Smith Ark., and St. Louis, Mo. Property valuea at about $100, 000 was confiscated by the government and, in addition to the sentence he was fined J33.000. ''Casper has been in Jacksonville, Fla., for two weeks as a witness -in the case against Thomas C McCoy, of Asheville, who was convicted in the Federal court there a week ago. The conviction of McCoy is thought to have had some influence in Casper's getting the pardon, coupled with the report that he has been an ideal prisoner. .Casper's total sentence amounted to over 40 -years, but the sentences were made to overlap, totaling about nine. years. PRAISES ARMY ENGINEERS FOR FLOOD RELIEF WORK Secretary Baker Endorses Review of' the Work in Southern States. Washington, . Dec. 22. Gratification over' results acscompllshed by the en gineer corps in relieving, distress caus ed by storms In Southern states .last July was sxpressed by Secretary Baker in his endorsement of a review of the work made public today. He directed the chief of engineers to express his appreciation to the officers concerned. A letter from Senator Underwood praising the efficiency of the corps ac- -companled the papers. The report deals with the use made of the $570,000 Congress authorized for relief work. "Most of the relief was given by em ploying the destitute on road work," it says, "there being not enough river im- C provement or other public work of the V United States to furnish employment for all." DEATHS. IN MASONIC HOME FIRE MAY NUMBER OVER FIVE Ruins of Big Building Not Yet Thdr - oughly Searched. Wichita, Kas., Dec. 22. The critical " condition of three5 persons injured : in the Kansas Masonic fire today caused fears tonight that the death list of flve: would be Increased. . " Two of the" injured are children. '", All,' were overcome-by Smoke before they could be rescued from the burning;, building . and were - revival with diffl- culty. ' " ,.: - It has been impossible yet. to search thoroughly the ruins of the huge build, ing from which four charred bodies were recovered today, but hope virtual- , ly was abandoned for a fifth person, 'a-'-young wonian.. Probably twenty-five of the rescued,) are under the eare of physicians. ' ; J II; 4 seai 33 f'l i -"L fi V; ";,.f ' tVf; 1 X-
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 1916, edition 1
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